Industry VP says women have taken big strides in the mortgage industry – but there’s still plenty of work to do
Women have made significant inroads in making the Canadian mortgage industry a more level playing field over recent decades – but the work is far from over.
A huge part of the next steps involves helping newer female industry members get the guidance, connection, and confidence they need to succeed as a mortgage professional.
Elena Robinson (pictured top), vice president of residential sales at First National Financial, has witnessed first-hand the progress made since she started out in the sector as a BDM in a male-dominated industry.
Now a top executive at one of Canada’s most prominent lenders, Robinson told Canadian Mortgage Professional the road to a successful career in the industry begins by dialling in on education and focusing on gaining knowledge to grow.
“If you want to advance in any role, learn,” she said. “Take a mentor, take some courses. Not only does it help you, but it also indicates to the person that you’re serious in terms of wanting to advance your career.
“By demonstrating that you’ve done this and that to help you get to where you want to go, that shows a lot to any leader – that this person is really committed in wanting to advance or better themselves. That’s huge.”
Robinson will appear as a panelist at the eagerly anticipated Women in Mortgage Summit, taking place on September 24 at Toronto’s International Centre.
That panel, assembling some of the highest-profile female executives in Canada’s mortgage space, will address ways to navigate leadership as a woman in the industry and strike the right balance between a career and life outside work.
The steps to a successful – and balanced – life and career
One of the most important steps for female leaders, according to Robinson, is realizing that it’s a fallacy to believe you can do everything – and being able to build a team and delegate effectively are essential parts of finding the right mix.
“You want to give [your team] the opportunity to take on responsibilities. You don’t have to do it all,” she said. “People sometimes want to keep it all to themselves and think that they have to do it. It’s OK to actually allow your team to take on some of that – and it helps them too, further on in their career.”
Part of what comes with delegating tasks is accepting that there will be bumps along the way. “People make mistakes,” Robinson said. “I don’t expect perfection, but it’s also a learning opportunity for them.”
The Women in Mortgage Summit, returning for its fourth year, offers an invaluable opportunity for women in the industry to partake in a full day of education and networking – with building contacts and developing relationships especially top of mind.
The value of networking
Networking can sometimes be a daunting task for new industry members – but Robinson said the best approach is to show up, pay attention, and learn from the best.
“Hopefully their leader takes them along with them to introduce them to people,” she said. “Even if they don’t say anything – just watching the interactions between your manager and other team members, and learning from osmosis – there’s so much to learn.
“When you’re almost shadowing someone, watching how they interact with people, you can learn so much just standing there.”
Mentorship is also something whose importance can’t be overvalued – particularly because the mortgage sector lacks a defined educational pathway, and there are no set steps to move up the career ladder.
Reflecting on the progress made by women in the mortgage sector, Robinson pointed to “vast improvement” even over the last decade, although she’s careful to emphasize the hard work that still lies ahead.
“There’s still ways to go, but it’s heartening to see how women have become successful brokers, and even on the finance side of the business,” she said. “Having these types of industry events has truly helped women get to where we are.”
Make sure to register now for what’s sure to be an unmissable day of education and networking: the 2026 Women in Mortgage Summit in Toronto.
